KSfan4ever

They should've left well enough alone. The 1972 classic hit Day of the Jackal is so extraordinary that any attempts to re-create it would necessarily fall far short. This re-make is a bust. If you are a fan of the original, don't waste your time with this one.

For me, it didn't quite live up to the great reviews. The massive hype for this film convinced me to watch it but I found some aspects very disappointing: 1) the distracting, guttural, screeching and clanging music did not support the action, and often competed with the dialogue in the quieter scenes. I think Hans Zimmer would have been a better composer choice for a film of this magnitude and scope. 2) the alternating black & white to color scenes depending on time frames was extremely distracting. 3) The editing was choppy and some scene sequences didn't flow. 4) The sex scenes with Cillian and Florence Pugh were gratuitous and poorly done, plus they had no screen chemistry. The positives: 1) fantastic, intensely riveting performances by the talented Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. The movie is worth seeing just for them and I would expect Oscar nods for both. Casey Affleck & Gary Oldman were superb and I wished their roles were larger. Emily Blunt is wonderful no matter the movie and she dependably delivers here. 2) The special effects are mind-blowing and jaw-dropping. Words don't do them justice. All in all, I give the movie a thumbs up but I've seen better.

A slow, dragged out plot was barely saved and held together by the always astonishing and riveting acting of the ever-handsome Benicio Del Toro who is the only reason to watch this movie. But even Benicio's Brando-like screen charisma and charm couldn't elevate the sinking plot. The distractingly poor acting of Justin Timberlake made me yearn for an actor worthy of sharing screen time with Del Toro, like the captivating Josh Brolin that made their Sicario pairing sizzle. This movie was a huge disappointment of plot, music, and acting with the exception of BDT and his enjoyable on-screen chemistry with Alicia Silverstone that recreates their successful pairing from Excess Baggage of 26 years ago.

I'm a fan of both spy thrillers and Damian Lewis so I eagerly jumped into watching this series. Unfortunately, the lighting was so consistently dim I could barely discern the characters or setting. Sometimes I just closed my eyes and listened to the dialogue. What a disappointment, as I imagine it would have been a wonderful show if only I could actually see all the action. And yes, my eyes are perfectly fine.